The disco grooves, the 80s summer choruses, and soaring harmonies: Fickle Friends do it all with their newest release that embraces a multitude of classic genres that shaped the music of today in their newest single, Not In The Mood.

 Not In The Mood wastes no time to introduce itself – the song begins immediately with the thick grooves right into the first bar of the chorus. It’s a real jumpstart to a song, an approach not often done, but in this case, it’s done just right. The choruses would power entire arenas full of energy and hype, with the electric funk guitars, the tasteful beats, and the contagious melodies. The chord progressions used for the verses are extremely interesting, playing a few stray tones that are away from the main key of A minor. They’re just subtle enough for people to appreciate the musically without branding it as some form of jazz, though the jazz inspirations are very clear. The band opted for a synth bass, which I think is the cherry on top of the cake. This definitely has a jam-feel, and they could’ve absolutely made something beautiful with a real bass guitar, but since they went for that 80s vibe, the sub bass that substituted fit the song more perfectly than I could’ve imagined. The small little licks played by it in moments where the space allows it in the composition are so tasty you’d save it until the end for desert. It’s small flourishes like those that really make this song as brilliant as it is; the subtleties make up for just as much of the flavor as any other component in this tune. The other thing that’s impressive about this song, is sudden change to a nearly-metal breakdown at the halfway point of the song, acting as some sort of bridge going to a slower section, bringing the song to a close with the chorus one last time, just as poppy and groovy as before.

This single feels like it belongs in the summer, but as soon as your earphones are on and the track spins, you’ll feel like summer’s come early. It’s a beautiful glimpse into a world of music both loathed and loved, but I promise that despite your opinions on 80s music, Not In The Mood will give you a great time from start to finish.

Author: Nicholas Gaudet

Music producer and writer from Dieppe, Canada.